Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
An historic business aircraft – the very first Learjet 28 – recently visited the ramp at the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. What makes this particular “Lear” special is its history. The Learjet 28 – aka the “Longhorn” – was a refinement of the Learjet 25. With a flight crew of two it carried six to eight passengers. Among the redevelopments of the 28 was a new wing – the same used for the Lear 55. The 28 was the first civil aircraft to be certified with winglets. The prototype first flew on Aug. 24, 1977. Only five aircraft were built.
The aircraft that visited the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport is serial number 28-001. What makes this aircraft even more unique, are the records it set while under the command of Neil Armstrong – the same man who first set foot on the moon. On Feb. 19 and 20, 1979, Armstrong, (at that time was a professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and member of the Gates Learjet board of directors) along with Learjet test pilot Pete Reynolds – set five Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and National Aeronautic Association class records in this very aircraft.
Today this aircraft is in private and charter operation. We were thrilled to have it visit with us showing one again – you never know just what is going to show up on the ramp each day.
Neil Armstrong records in this Learjet 28:
1. FAI Record #2652 – Type: Time to climb to a height of 15,000 meters – Performance: 12:27 minutes
2. FAI Record #8657 -Type: Altitude in horizontal flight – Performance: 15,584.6 meters
3. FAI Record #8670 -Type: Altitude – Performance: 15,584.6 meters
4. FAI Record #2653 – Type: Altitude – Performance: 15,585 meters
5. FAI Record #2654 – Type: Altitude in horizontal flight – Performance: 15,585 meters Note: The airplane’s tail number at the time of these flights was N9RS.
